The Car Connection Finds the Trailblazer a Stylish and Refined Small SUV

SUVs have long been both very large, like the 90 years of the Chevrolet Suburban, or very small, like the original World War II Jeep and its descendants. Chevrolet offers SUVs in every size, and the Trailblazer is the smallest. It is also the smallest vehicle of any kind that Chevrolet sells. That interested automotive enthusiast site TheCarConnection.com(TCC) enough to review the Trailblazer. Twin Falls Chevrolet is pleased that the editors found the Trailblazer to be a solid, practical, and likable vehicle, especially in all-wheel drive form.  

The Trailblazer is the upper model of Chevrolet’s two-product plan to dominate the sub-compact crossover category, with the other being the Trax. The Trailblazer has a smaller exterior than the Trax but costs a little more due to a higher feature content. The Trailblazer is also the only model of the two to be available with all-wheel drive (AWD) and to have a more powerful engine option. 

At the base level, the two models share plenty of mechanicals, starting with the standard 1.2-liter turbocharged inline-three engine, a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and front-wheel drive (FWD).   

The Trailblazer is available in four different trim levels: LS, LT, ACTIV, and RS. The LS and LT have the standard 1.2-liter turbocharged inline-three engine and CVT, which strictly drives the front wheels. The engine produces 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. When configured as such, the Trailblazer has an EPA-estimated city/highway/combined mpg rating of 29/33/31.  

Optional on the LS and LT (but standard on the ACTIV and RS) is a 1.3-liter turbocharged inline-three. It is just a little larger, but together with more turbo boost, the power bumps up to 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. Configured with FWD, the engine is also paired with the CVT. The larger engine has a small increase in city mpg but has an expected drop on the highway with 30/31/30. All trim levels are available with AWD, which mandates the larger 1.3-liter engine. AWD also changes the transmission to a nine-speed automatic. This drivetrain produces an estimated fuel rating of 26/29/27 mpg. This was TCC’s favorite drivetrain, stating, “The bigger turbo-3 is smoother, and its transmission works far better. It’s the one we’d grab.” 

The AWD Trailblazer can’t blaze trails with the same ferocity of a Colorado ZR2, but its 8.0-inch ground clearance is better than most in the class, and its short wheelbase and overhangs make it easy to maneuver both off- and on-pavement. It has a standard tow rating of 2,000 pounds.  

The Trailblazer’s short rear overhang comes by being five inches shorter than its Trax sibling. It probably appears even shorter due to its lack of a rear quarter window behind the rear doors. However, it matches the longer Trax in rear-seat legroom at 39 inches, which is surprisingly generous for this size vehicle.  

TCC describes the Trailblazer styling. “Fun outside and rather nice inside, the 2025 Chevy Trailblazer doesn’t look like a cheap SUV.” When describing the interior in more detail, the editors state, “Its 11.0-inch touchscreen vaults up from the dash and angles slightly toward the driver, imparting a sophisticated, almost sporty look. An 8.0-inch instrument cluster framed by the steering wheel adds a tech flair.” Powering the infotainment behind the 11.0-inch screen is the Google Built-in operating system, which is fast, has a surprisingly accurate voice activation system, and features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Even without your phone, you will have standard Google Maps on-hand, and additional apps are easily available from the Google Play Store.  

Long gone are the days when a small car raised safety concerns, particularly as every Trailblazer comes standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which includes the following safety technologies: 

• Automatic Emergency Braking 
• Forward Collision Alert 
• Front Pedestrian Braking 
• Following Distance Indicator 
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning 
• IntelliBeam auto high beam 

The Trailblazer also earned a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and earned a “Good” (the highest rating) in all IIHS impact tests. 

With the combination of interior and safety tech, TCC declares the Trailblazer to be a good value, which is exactly what Chevrolet was aiming for. If you are interested in a small, capable, stylish, and well-regarded SUV, Twin Falls Chevrolet invites you to visit and test drive one of the small-but-mighty Trailblazers in our inventory.